Poultry box



June 30, 1942. H. M. INMAN 2,288,457

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POULTRY BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Haie Mfz man Filed Oct. 17, 1940 June 30, 1942. H, M, [NMAN 2,288,457

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'Hak M Inma Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This inventionrelates to an improved construction of poultry box, and more particularly to a box for use in shipping chicks, turkey poults and ducklings, and which is formed by blanks of fibrous material which may be readily assembled Y for use without the use of staples or other separate fastening means.

One object of the invention is to provide a poultry box of fibrous material provided with vent openings and means for spacing the sides and lid of the box from adjacent boxes to permit free circulation of air in and around the box at all times.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a poultry box having a lid adapted to fold along a central line so that corresponding portions of the lid may be opened independently of one another for exposing portions of the box; said lid also being provided with integral aps adapted to be opened for inserting chicks into different compartments of the box.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a box having longitudinal and transverse partitions, which partitions are provided with upwardly projecting spaced portions which extend through the lid of the box for spacing the boxes when stacked, one of said extending por..

tions being provided with a slot and being dis` posed substantially in the center of the box to form a handle by means of which the box may be carried.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the poultry box, showing the lid applied and in a closed position,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is an end view in elevation of the same,

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and showing the sections of the lid, in dotted lines, in partially opened positions,

Figure 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 1 1 of Figure 6,

45 the lines 30.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the longitudinal partition of the poultry box is formed,

Figure 9 is a similar view of the blank from 5 which the transverse partition is formed,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of the body portion of the box,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one end of the longitudinal partition, shown detached from 10 the body portion of the box and assembled ready t0 be applied:

Figure 12 is a similar view of one end of the transverse partition,

Figure 13 is atop plan view of another embodiment of the poultry box, shown provided with single ply partitions,

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the box, shown in Figure 13, with the lid thereof removed,

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevational 204 view of one end of the transverse partition of the box shown in Figures 13 and 14, and

Figure 16 is a similar view of one end of the longitudinal partition of said box.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the diierent views, Il designates generally one embodiment of the poultry box, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, which includes a box, designated generally i8 and a lid, designated generally I9.

The box i8 includes a body portion 20 which is formed from a single blank and which, as best seen in Figures 6 and 10 is adapted to be folded along the lines 2| and 22 to form the bottom 23,

side walls 24, and end walls 25. The side walls 24 are provided adjacent their ends with U- shaped slots 26, the legs of which extend toward the ends of the walls 24 adjacent which the slots 26 are disposed. The end walls 25 are provided with extensions 21, at their ends, which are adapted to be folded along the lines 28 and which are provided at their free ends with integral tongue members 29 which are adapted to be folded relatively to the extensions 2l along The tongue members 29 are of double thickness and are adapted to be folded upon themselves along the lines 3i and are provided at their ends or top and bottom edges with tabs 32 which are adapted to be folded along the lines 33.

the lines 28 to be disposed on the outer `sides of the ends of the side walls 24, after which the tongue members 29 are folded on the lines 3I to form tongue members of two thicknesses. These tongue members are then folded on the lines 38 to extend inwardly and their tabs 32 are folded on the lines 33 to project toward the extensions 21, of which the tongue members 29 form a part, so that the tongue member 29 can be passed through the adjacent slot 26, after which the tabs 32 are bent back to their original positions to form extensions of the body portions of the tongue members 29 for locking said members in the slots 26, as best seen in Figure 7. The tongue members 29 are provided with integral 1in portions 34 which project outwardly through the slots 26 and beyond the side walls 24 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

Referring particularly to Figures 8 and 11, 35 designates generally a longitudinal partition which is formed from a blank of fibrous material and which is provided with spaced, substantially square cut-out portions 36 and a longitudinal fold line 31 along which the blank forming the partition 35 is adapted to be folded to form a partition of two thicknesses. The ends of the blank are cut along the lines `38 to form the flanges 39 which are folded outwardly along the lines 46 and which combineA with the cut-out portions 36 to form the upwardly projecting end extensions 4I, which include portions of the flanges 39 and the intermediate upwardly projecting extensions 42, the plies of which are cutout to form a longitudinal slot 43, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The

flanges 39 are cut along theV lines 44 to form portions which project from the ilanges39, at right angles thereto, and which form extensions of the ends of the partition 35, said portions being disposed in abutting engagement, at each end of the partition 35, to form tongues 45, each having a tab at its upper end, designated 46, which is adapted to be folded on a line 41. The blank forming the partition 35 is provided with transverse slots which open outwardly of the side edges thereof and which combine, when the blank is folded to form the partition, to form a downwardly opening slot 48 in the partition 35, intermediate of the ends thereof.

As best seen in Figures 9 and 12, the transverse partition, designated generally 49, is likewise formed from a single blank of fibrous material which is provided with a longitudinally and centrally disposed cut-out portion 50 ancl with fold lines I beyond the ends of the cut-out portion and on which the blank is adapted to be folded lengthwise to form a two ply transverse partition 49, as best seen in Figure 12. The cutout portion 50 forms the upwardly projecting extensions 52 at the ends of the partition 49. The ends of the plies of the partition 49 are provided with complementary extensions forming tongues 53 which are cut along the lines 54 and provided with the fold lines 55 forming tabs 56 at the upper ends of the tongues 53. The blank forming the partition 49, is provided with transverse slots which open into the cut-out portion 50 intermediate of the ends thereof, and which form the upwardly opening slot 51 inthe partition 49, as illustrated in Figure 12.

The side and end walls 24 and 25, respectively, are provided with inverted L-shaped slots 58, intermediate of ktheir ends. To assemble the box I8, the partition 49 is first inserted into the box transversely thereof, preferablybefore the sides 24 and 25 are interlocked by the tongue mem- 75 2,288,457 y bers 29. The vtabs 56 of the tongues 53 are folded to horizontal positions on the lines so that the tongues can be passed through the slots 58 in the side wa1ls24 after which the tabs are bent back,- ward to `their original positions to extend upwardly, as seen in Figure-2, for locking the parti'- tion 49 in position. The longitudinal partition 35 is then inserted into the body portion 20 with its slot 48 interengaged with the slot 51, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, for connecting the partitions 35 and 49 in crossed relationship. as illustrated in Figure 6. 'I'he tabs 46 of the tongues 45 are then folded and passed through the slots 58 of the walls 25 and thereafter returned to their original, upright positions, for interlocking the partition 35 to the end walls 25. When thus disposed, the flanges 39 will be in'abutting engagement with the inner sides of the end walls 25, as seen in Figure 6. Walls 24 and 25 are then interlocked by means of the tongue members 29 to complete the assembled box I8, as shown in Figure 6. With the box thus assembled, the extensions 4i, 42 and 52 project above the level of the upper edges of the walls 24 and 25, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

A lid I9, as best seen in Figure 1, is formed from a single thickness of fibrous material which is provided with a longitudinal slot 60, `at the center thereof, spaced transversely disposed slots 6I, and T-shaped slots 62, adjacent the ends of the lid I9. The lid .I9 is adapted to be applied over the open top of the box I8 for closing the same, and when in a closed, applied position, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the extensions 42 will project upwardly through the slot 60, the extensions 52 will extend upwardly through the slots 6I and the extensions 4I will extend upwardly through the slots 62. The lid I9 is sized so that it will extend substantially beyond the side and end walls 24 and 25, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, and is provided with notches 59 in its marginal portions which extend inwardly to the sides 24 and 25, for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained. 'I'he lid I9 is provided with the longitudinally disposed fold lines 63 dividing the lid into corresponding longitudinal sections 64 which are hingedly mounted relatively to one another so that either of the sections 64 may be swung upwardly, independently of the other, as illustrated in Figure 5, for exposing two of the four compartments 65, of the box I6. In this way, either half of the box I8 may be opened without removing the lid I9. The ends 66, as seen in Figure 1, of the extensions 4I and 52 are rounded to permit the sections 64 to be swung upwardly. 'I'he lid sections 64 are provided with struck-out portions 61 forming keyhole shaped openings 68. The portions 61, of one of the sections 64, are adapted to engage the keyhole shaped openings 68 of the other section 64, when both of the sections are in fully opened positions, for detachably holding the sections in open positions.

The side walls 24, end walls 25, partitions 35 and 49, and lid I9 are each provided with a plurality of circular scored portions 69 which are adapted to be punched out to form Ventilating openings by means of which the amount of Ventilation provided may be varied, depending upon the temperature by punching out a few or many of said portions 69. The lid I9 is scored along the lines 10 to form flaps 1I which are adapted to be swung upwardly for exposing the individual compartments so that baby chicks, for example, may be placed in the diierent comtures 12 through which can be threaded a strand ofwire, not shown. for retaining the lid I9 in a i closed position on the box Il.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a number of chicks, for example, can be contained .in the poultry box il and may be inserted into or removed from the compartments 65 without removing the lid Il by merely swinging the sections 54 to raised positions. The chicks may also be inserted through the openings formed by the flaps 1I, as previously explained. In addition to retaining the lid I9 in a closed position by means of the strand of wire threaded through the apertures 12, the box I8 may be tied up tightly with cord or twine, for example, not shown, and the notches 58 are provided for anchoring the cord or twine and for preventing it from causing the lid I! to buckle. The extensions 4I, 42 and 52 will support a superposed box in spaced apart relationship to the lid i9 to permit a free circulation of air thereover and through the openings formed by the portions 6l thereof. l The marginal portion of the lid I9 which extends beyond the walls 24 and 25, the tongues 45 and 53, and the fins 34 combine to form spacing means to prevent adjacently stored boxes from engaging against the walls 24 and 25 to thereby insure a free circulation of air around the box and` through the Ventilating openings formed in the walls 24 and 25 thereof. The slot 43 in the extensions 42 forms therewith a handle by means of which the box il may be manually carried.

Referring to Figures 13 to 16, Il' designates generally a slightly modified form of poultry box including a box portion Il', the body portion 20 of which is identical with the body portion 2li. The partition 35' is formed of a single plyand is identical in shape with the partition 35 except that it is provided with a single ange 39 at each end thereof, which flanges extend in opposite directions, relatively to one another. As a result, the extensions 4|' are L-shaped whereas the extensions 4i are T-shaped. The partition 49' is identical with the partition 49 except that it is formed of a single ply or thickness which, however, does not effect its shape or construction.

The lid i9 corresponds with the lid I9 except that its slots 62 are L-shaped to receive the extensions 4i' whereas the slots 62 are T-shaped. The L-shaped slots 62 have their transversely disposed sides extending in opposite directions. The remaining parts of the poultry box il are identical with the corresponding parts of the poultry box I1 and will therefore not be described.

In view of the previous description of the poultry box I1 and in view of the fact that the purpose of the box I1' and the function of its parts are the same, a further description oi' the poultry box l'l' is deemed unnecessary.

Various modiiications and changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts forming the invention are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to as only preferred embodiments thereof have been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A chick box comprising a body portion of cardboard or the like, a longitudinal and a transverse partition disposed in the body portion and dividing it into compartments, the side and end walls of said body portion being provided with slots, tongues formed at the ends of said partitions for engaging said slots, locking means associated with the tongues for retaining them in position in the slots, all portions of the upper edges of the side and end walls being disposed at substantially the same level, a substantially dat cover for the body portion, said cover being disposed to rest on the upper edges of the side and end walls, when ina closed position, said cover having a plurality of slots, said partitions having a plurality of upwardly projecting enlargements extending through the slots, and said cover having a fold line to permit either side of the cover to be swung upwardly into an open position for exposing certain of the compartments.

2. A chick box as in claim 1, one of said upwardly extending portions being disposed substantially in the center of the box and being provided with a slot to form a handle and a central support for the bottom of a superposed box. l

3. A chick box as in claim 1, said cover being provided with means, forming a part thereof, for connecting complementary portions of the cover for holding said portions in a raised, open position relatively to the compartments.

4. A poultry box having side and end walls provided with angular slots, a longitudinal and a transverse partition disposed in and dividing the box into a plurality of compartments, said partitions having tongues for engaging complementary legs of the slots for connecting the partitions to the walls, said tongues being provided with locking tabs at corresponding ends thereof,

said tabs each being bent at an angle to its tongue to be passed through the other leg of the slot, which is engaged by its tongue, and said tabs tending to assume their normal positions in alinement with their tongues, when released, so that said tabs will be out of alinement with the last mentioned legs of the slots, for locking the tongues therein, said partitions having spaced upwardly projecting portions extending above the upper edges of thewalls, and a lid for covering the open top of the box having slots for engaging the upwardly projecting portions, said lid having a longitudinal fold line whereby portions of the lid can be independently swung upwardly to an open position.

5. A poultry box as in claim 4, the edges of said lid extending beyond the side and end walls and being provided with a plurality of spaced notches extending inwardly to the side and end walls for receiving and anchoring a flexible member for tying the lid on the box.

6. A poultry box as in claim 4, comprising means formed integral with the lid for connecting said portions thereof for holding the lid portions in open positions.

7. A poultry box as in claim 4, said lid being provided with integral, hinged iiaps forming openings communicating with the different compartments of the box.

8. A poultry box as in claim 4, the side walls of the box, adjacent their ends, being provided with U-shaped slots, the end Walls of the box being provided with extensions at their ends, said extensions having integral tongues, said tongues being of double thickness and being provided with tabs at their ends adapted to be bent for passing through the U-shaped slots, said tabs being adapted to return to their normal positions, in alinement with their tongues, and out of alinement with the slots, when released, for locking the last mentioned tongues in the U-shaped slots,

and the free ends of said last mentioned tongues having portions projecting outwardly of said U- shaped slots.

9. A poultry box as in claim 4, said partitions being of double thickness and being folded along Y their upper edges, said longitudinal partition being provided with oppositely extending flange portions at its ends, disposed against the inner sides of the end walls, and the tongues of the longitudinal partition being cut out of said ilanges.

of the box, said partitions having upwardly extending portions projecting through the slots for connecting the lid and box,said lid having a central fold line whereby corresponding portions of the lid are hingedly mounted relatively to one another for exposing the different compartments without removing the lid. and said lid having' hinged flap portions adapted to be opened relatively to the lid `for exposing portions of the compartments.

12. A poultry box oi' fibrous material, said box having tongues and slots for detachably connecting portions thereof, said slots each including angularly disposed portions, said tongues each having a tab at an end thereof, each tongue being detachably engaged with one portion of its slot, its tab being bent at an angle to the f tongue to be passed through the other portion of the slot, and said tabs tending torreturn to their normal positions, in alinement with their tongues and out of alinement with the slot portions, through which they are passed, when 'released, for locking the tongues in the slots.

HALE M. INMAN. 

